Hydrangea plant named ‘H218911’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘H218911’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red purple, yellow green and greenish white-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘H218911’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘H218911’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Lengerich, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new strong and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, uniform flowering habit, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterile flowers, attractive sterile flower color and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2011 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 05-0144-008, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 05-0126-003, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lengerich, Germany in March, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since April, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘H218911’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘H218911’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red purple,         yellow green and greenish white-colored sterile flowers.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in inflorescence form as plants of the new Hydrangea have mophead-type inflorescences whereas plants of the female parent selection have lacecap-type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are lighter red purple and yellow green in color than sterile flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HBA215910’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,171. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HBA215910’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are taller and more vigorous than         plants of ‘HBA215910’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger leaves than plants of         ‘HBA215910’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger panicles than plants         of ‘HBA215910’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have more sterile and fertile         flowers per inflorescence than plants of ‘HBA215910’.     -   5. Plants of the new Hydrangea have light red purple, yellow         green and greenish white-colored sterile flowers whereas plants         of ‘HBA215910’ have dark red purple-colored sterile flowers with         green-colored sectors.     -   6. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘HBA215910’ differ in         reaction to aluminum sulfate treatment as sterile flower sepals         of plants of the new Hydrangea treated with aluminum sulfate         become light greyed purple in color with yellow green-colored         apices and purple-colored edges whereas sterile flower sepals of         plants of ‘HBA215910’ treated with aluminum sulfate become light         purple violet in color with greyed red-colored sectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H218911’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘H218911’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H218911’ that has been “blued” (left) that is, treated with aluminum sulfate, and a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H218911’ that has not been “blued” (right) that is, not treated with aluminum sulfate.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late spring and early summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea can be successfully treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H218911’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 05-0144-008, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 05-0126-003, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded plant             habit; strong and sturdy stems; rapid growth rate and             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm to 45 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 45 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             six lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 20° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 146C; at internodes, close             to 187A; lenticels, close to 187A. Developed: Close to 146C;             at the internodes, close to 187A; when woody, close to 177D;             lenticels, close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 cm to 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to NN137B; venation, close to 145B. Developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B;             venation, close to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 145B. Color, lower surface: Close to             145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles globular in shape; flowers face             upright to outwardly depending on their position in the             inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about one             year after planting; flowering begins in the early summer             and is continuous throughout the summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one month on             the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers             last about four months on the plant, sterile flowers             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 60             fertile flowers per panicle and about 130 sterile flowers             per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 15 cm to 16 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 18 cm to 22 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 149D. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 65C; color does             not change with development.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four to             five in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 62B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62B; color becoming             closer to 63B with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 62B; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; color does             not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm to             2.5 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute to cuspidate. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Serrate to serrulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Centers, close to 144B and towards the             margins, close to 185C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 65A to 65D, centers, close to 146D and towards the base,             close to 157B; with development, color becoming closer to             144C with spots, close to 181B; when “blued”, close to 186D             with centers, close to 145A to 145C, and edges, close to             N79D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 65C, centers,             close to 147D; with development, color becoming closer to             144D with spots, close to 181C.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 63D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to             about 45° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 49C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape:             Conical. Anther color: Close to 145D. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 69D. Style             length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color:             Close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About three to five. Filament length: About 1 mm.             Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Conical. Anther color: Close to 145D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 69D. Style             length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color:             Close to 150D.         -   Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per             fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: About 0.5 mm.             Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color: Close to 200C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°     C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘H218911’ as illustrated and described. 